Media Makes Up Fake News About Trump Feeding Fish

President Donald Trump mirrored the actions of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday as he took part in a longstanding tradition of foreign dignitaries feeding fish. The mainstream media, though, twisted reports to portray Trump’s actions as a gaffe.

Prior to their luncheon on Monday at Akasaka Palace, Trump and Abe appeared together on a balcony overlooking a Koi pond, each holding a small wooden box filled with fish food.

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Both leaders spooned the food into the water until Abe emptied the contents of his container into the pond. Following Abe’s example, Trump soon did the same, although a number of media outlets have reported that Trump did so witlessly, without conveying that Abe emptied his container first.

CNN published the headline, “Trump feeds fish, winds up pouring entire box of food into Koi pond,” followed by a story which included a misleading tweet by reporter Veronica Rocha featuring a video that only shows Trump emptying his container of food into the pond.

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The cropped video, which does not show Abe taking the same action prior to Trump, has been widely utilized throughout the media.

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“As an aide clapped loudly, Abe and Trump tossed spoonfuls of fish food into the pond,” read CNN’s story. “Then, with a look of enjoyment, Trump quickly poured his entire box of food into the pond.”

CNN’s updated story noted that “The move got Trump some laughs, and a smile from Abe, who actually appeared to dump out his box of food ahead of Trump.”

In similar fashion, The Guardian published a story about the incident which questioned Trump’s “grasp of fish keeping.”

“White House reporters, keen perhaps to pick up on a Trump gaffe, captured the moment when he upended his box on their smartphones and tweeted evidence of his questionable grasp of fish keeping,” The Guardian wrote.

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“Some speculated that a poor palace employee would be dispatched to the scene to clean up the mess as soon as the two leaders disappeared inside,” the story read.

The New Jersey news editor for The Associated Press, Josh Cornfield, attempted to set the record straight regarding the Koi-feeding story, tweeting that video showed Abe emptying his container before Trump.

Conversely, one Japanese Twitter user found boyish charm in Trump’s actions.

“Mr. Trump didn’t seem to really get the art of feeding carp,” read the tweet, which was posted in Japanese. “I saw a charm of a little boy, and for some reason, I smiled. To feed carp little by little, and to watch them get closer to you by shaking their fins— these are ways to enjoy a relaxing time. But that seems impossible for a president who’s busy.”